Our AAPP
Australian Assessor Preferred Pathway
Australia’s only learning and development pathway to becoming a skilled Foster and Kinship Care assessor.
Next intake opens 1st November & kicks off 29 January 2024
What is the AAPP
The AAPP is a six-month, intensive learning and development pathway which will lead to a full recognition of the endorsed units of competencies required to be recognised as a professional Foster and Kinship Care assessor.
The competencies in this pathway will be attained through a combination of formal and informal education, training and coaching, delivered to suit various learning styles.
Participants will complete a mix of formative, summative and practical assessment activities to acquire and demonstrate the required skills and knowledge to attain formal recognition.
Discover what you'll receive on your journey to become a professional AAPP assessor.
Six months of formal learning, education and support
Assessment writing is a niche skill. It’s about so much more than filling in a template, asking questions and writing down answers. It takes comprehensive skills and a wide knowledge base, evidence, analysis and a framework for practice. While there are some training courses and packages available to teach specifically to a template in some States and Territories, this six-month intensive, formal learning and education pathway is the only one of its kind.
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Participants will gain a wealth of knowledge from the combined practice wisdom of the senior Social Care Solutions team, who have been writing and delivering thousands of comprehensive, complex, and high-quality foster and kinship care assessments across Australia for over 13 years. This course recognises your experience and skills and helps you to build on your practice base, through a mixture of mentoring, coaching, supervision, training and professional advice and support.
Monthly online supervision with a Senior Practitioner
Valued at 6 x $180p/hr = $1,080
Assessment writing is a niche skill. It’s about so much more than filling in a template, asking questions and writing down answers. It takes comprehensive skills and a wide knowledge base, evidence, analysis and a framework for practice. While there are some trainings available to teach specifically to a template in some States and Territories, this six-month intensive, formal learning and education pathway is the only one of its kind.
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Participants will gain a wealth of knowledge from the combined practice wisdom of the senior Social Care Solutions team, who have been writing and delivering thousands of comprehensive, complex, and high-quality foster and kinship care assessments across Australia for over 13 years. This course recognises your experience and skills and helps you to build on your practice base, through a mixture of mentoring, coaching, supervision, training and professional advice and support.
2-day Assessment Writing Workshop (online or in person)*
SCS has been delivering their hugely successful Assessment Writing Workshop for over 10 years. This will give the participant a great opportunity to engage with other new assessors or those within the sector to refresh their assessment skills in a hands-on, practical and engaging workshop run by a trained and experienced assessor.
*If you have already attended the SCS AWW in the past three years, this will be substituted with the one-day intensive Advanced Assessment Writing Reflection Workshop.
Valued at $550p/p
Coaching for one piece of assessment
Valued at $1,500
We all know going to training is one thing; putting this into practice in our everyday roles are another. The coaching part of the AAPP ensures staff are fully supported to embed their learnings from the AWW. A Senior Practitioner will attend (online) two foster and/or kinship care assessment interviews with you, offering guidance and support, in real time. If the Practitioner is not currently in an employed role where coaching can take place, the Practitioner will link in with a SCS practitioner to complete this piece of coaching work.
Peer Mentoring Program
Valued at $1,000
​The PMP is a unique opportunity to further cement your skills after you have attended the training and received hands-on coaching. You will complete your own assessment; but you will not be on your own. You will have 4 intensive mentoring sessions with a Mentor; at the start of your assessment, between two interviews, before write-up stage and after, with your report being fully reviewed by your Mentor. This QA is a critical feedback opportunity so you can ensure all of your learnings have come to life on paper in a high-quality written piece of work.
3 x masterclasses of your choice
Valued at $147
​SCS has over 20 online masterclasses, accessible 24/7, for you to download and watch to complement your work in the assessment space. Understanding the Impact of someone’s ACES and PCEs, how to interview and Hear Young People’s Voices, being able to identify and assess potential Grooming Markers, writing Renewals/Reviews, or even just having Difficult Conversations, these masterclasses assist you to hone your skills in any areas of challenge or of interest to you.
Free access to SCS’ suite of online assessment tools for 12 months
Being an exceptional assessor requires a range of skill, knowledge and TOOLS to use. SCS has a suite of online assessment tools it uses to enhance interviewing and analysis of information relating to capacity to care for children. These tools will be accessible and able to be used by AAPP participants for a period of 12 months for free!
Valued at $200
1-on-1 masterclass with SCS CEO, Mel James
Having personally written over 1000 assessments and reviewed more than double that, Mel has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. This one-on-one with Mel will be an opportunity to ask any question, seek advice or support on any topic, and to have a reflective conversation about where you are at in your journey to becoming a professional assessor.
Valued at $350
Strengths Cards pack from Lighthouse Innovative Resources
Good assessors have a range of good resources at their disposal, so we’ll ensure you have a Strengths Cards pack from Lighthouse Innovative Resources of your own choosing, for you to use in your assessments once you have successfully completed the AAPP!
RRP $55
​An SCS supporter pack
Valued at over $200
The SCS supporter pack includes a branded tote bag, takeaway coffee mug, notebook and pen, squishy heart stress reliever, hand sanitiser, colouring pack and mints.
Become a professional assessor for only
$3,950
What's in it for me?
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Statement of Successful Completion after assessment of competency marked against a rubric matrix
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Use of the AAPP logo trademark to evidence your competency
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Increased opportunities for career progression in this niche skill set.
Why choose us?
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The SCS AAPP is the only comprehensive, personalised, learning pathway for Foster & Kinship Care assessors in Australia
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It’s open to practitioners who are new, new to the sector or those who wish to be upskilled
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Benefit from formal recognition from peers and demonstrate a higher level of commitment to industry.
How to enrol
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There are a range of enrolment options available including:
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Have your agency sponsor YOU as the participant
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Partial payment by agency and participant
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Full payment by participant (payment plans available)
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Apply for sponsorship through us!